A powerful combination of strong winds, dust storms, and heavy rains swept across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) this morning, disrupting air and rail traffic while bringing a noticeable drop in temperatures.
The adverse weather conditions caused significant delays at Indira Gandhi International Airport, with nearly 120 flights affected. According to FlightRadar, arrivals faced an average delay of 21 minutes, while departures were delayed by 61 minutes on average. In addition, three flights were diverted to Ahmedabad and Jaipur as a precautionary measure before landing in Delhi. Flights from Bangalore and Pune were among those rerouted.
Airlines such as Air India have urged passengers to stay updated on their flight statuses, acknowledging the disruptions. "Some of our flights to and from Delhi are being delayed or diverted, which is likely to impact our overall flight schedule. We are doing our best to minimize disruptions," the airline stated on X.
The stormy conditions also caused widespread damage across Delhi. Tragically, a woman and her three children lost their lives after a tree fell on their room in the Dwarka area due to the high winds. Meanwhile, railway operations were impacted, with around 15 to 20 trains delayed after trees fell on wires, particularly affecting the Delhi division.
Heavy rainfall caused waterlogging in multiple areas of the city, including Dwarka, Khanpur, Minto Road, Lajpat Nagar, and Moti Bagh. Authorities have advised residents to stay indoors and assess the weather before stepping out, as there are concerns of further disruptions due to the unpredictable conditions.
The temperature in Delhi dropped to 19.8 degrees Celsius, offering some relief from the recent heatwave. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi will continue to experience gusty winds of up to 70-80 km/h, with more heavy rains and thunderstorms expected in the coming days. Over the past three hours, rainfall levels have varied across the city: Safdarjung recorded 77mm, Lodhi Road 78mm, Palam 30mm, Najafgarh 19.5mm, and Pitampura 32mm.
The IMD has issued a yellow alert for the national capital, forecasting continued heavy rains, thunderstorms, and gusty winds until Saturday. The weather department has also noted that India is likely to experience above-normal temperatures in May, but thunderstorms will provide intermittent relief, particularly in the northern regions.
While the storm caused property damage, with trees uprooted and branches falling, authorities are still assessing the full extent of the impact.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)